Oneomics operates a molecular genomics laboratory processing a wide range of sample types, including plant tissue, soil, bacterial isolates, animal samples, and occasional human samples for sequencing-based applications.

Before automation, the team relied on manual spin-column workflows. But the diversity of sample inputs meant no single commercial kit could support every workflow. Soil, plant, and bacterial samples each required different chemistries, making it difficult to manage multiple kits while maintaining consistency across growing sample volumes.

As research and government-funded projects expanded, manual extraction became increasingly difficult to scale. Beyond throughput, Oneomics also needed an automation system flexible enough to support their own optimized extraction chemistries and protocols, rather than forcing them into a closed proprietary workflow.

An open extraction platform that could adapt to the lab’s chemistry

Oneomics needed an automation system that could support their in-house chemistries and optimized protocols. Many extraction platforms rely on fixed reagent ecosystems and rigid workflow structures, limiting flexibility for labs working with diverse sample types.

Manta offered a more adaptable approach. The automated DNA/RNA extraction system allowed Oneomics to automate their existing protocols using chemistries already validated in their lab. This enabled the team to transition from manual spin-column workflows to automation without compromising workflow control or rebuilding established extraction methods.

“We had our own chemistries we wanted to use in an automation, and Manta helped us optimize our own protocols and kits in an automation.”
Mr. Gawri Shankar, Regional Sales Manager, NGS, Oneomics

The team also valued the practical support provided during implementation. Because protocol optimization requires iteration, on-site and responsive service played an important role in helping them transition smoothly from manual workflows to automated processing.

For a 16-member team already managing active genomics projects, ease of use was an important consideration. The system needed to fit into the existing lab routine without requiring a dedicated automation expert or extensive retraining.

Manta’s compact, benchtop format and user-friendly operation helped the team adopt automation without significantly disrupting daily work.

“It is very user friendly.”  Mr. Gawri Shankar, Regional Sales Manager, NGS, Oneomics.

This mattered because the goal was not only to increase throughput, but to make extraction more consistent and manageable for the existing team.

3,000 DNA samples processed in the first 3-4 months

Within the initial few months of using Manta, Oneomics processed over 3,000 DNA samples. Their weekly extraction capacity now runs at approximately 300-400 samples across diverse sample types.

This represented a significant shift from their previous manual workflow. With manual spin columns, processing hundreds of samples per week across multiple sample matrices required high hands-on effort, careful kit management, and coordination across team members. Automation gave the lab a more predictable extraction cadence and helped support higher sample volumes without increasing manual workload proportionally.

For a sequencing-driven laboratory, extraction consistency is critical. The nucleic acid extraction step directly influences downstream library preparation, sequencing performance, and data quality. By automating this step, Oneomics was able to reduce manual variability while retaining control over the chemistries and protocols that worked best for their sample types.

A scalable extraction workflow built around the lab’s needs

Manta helped Oneomics move from a manual, kit-dependent extraction workflow to a scalable automated process that preserved protocol flexibility.

The key outcomes were: 

If your lab is processing diverse sample types, running your own optimized protocols, or simply running out of hands - Manta could be a good fit. 

• Supports your own chemistries and custom protocols

• On-site Indian support team 

• Compact footprint 

Get more information here.